A country cannot be in perpetual austerity because its economy doesn’t grow, Argentina’s former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said on Sunday, during a visit to the refugee center of Eleonas.

Kirchner is on a three-day visit to Athens, following an invitation by SYRIZA, and is expected to speak on Monday at the Athens Concert Hall about Latin America’s experience in dealing with the “crises in democracy and the struggle for social justice.” On the same day, she will meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Parliament President Nikos Voutsis.

“You cannot be in a perpetual austerity, because then you don’t grow. You need to offer some reprieve, give some oxygen and create a situation that is not just continuous austerity, but also growth,” she said.

“Although of course you cannot compare the two situations, I think is it important to exchange information around these things,” she added.